ALGIERS- The Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun affirmed, Thursday in Algiers, that the company representing the brands “Volvo” (Sweden) and “Renault Trucks” has submitted an application for approval at the level of his ministerial services.

During a plenary devoted to oral questions at the APN, in the presence of the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Basma Azouar and several members of the government, Mr. Aoun clarified in response to a question from MP Abdelouahab Yakobi (MSP party ) on “the reopening of the Swedish Volvo and +Renault Trucks+ truck factory in the Meftah region (Blida), with a production capacity of 2,500 trucks per year, closed since 2019”, that “the company has filed an application for approval at the service level of our ministry for examination in order to obtain approval for the assembly of trucks in Meftah in the wilaya of Blida”.

“The application for the granting of approval will be examined in accordance with the conditions stipulated by executive decree 22-384 setting the conditions and procedures for exercising the activity of new vehicle dealers and following the order when registering on the digital platform”, he said, assuring that there is “no decision taken by these services regarding the closure of the factory”

To a question from MP El Korichi Kamel (Independents) on the deadlines for finalizing the development of the Larbatache industrial park (Boumerdes) and its connection to electricity, in addition to the possibility of creating new industrial zones through the daïras of the wilaya, the Minister recalled that the wilaya of Boumerdès has benefited from the project to build a new industrial zone in Larbatache with an area of ​​137 hectares and whose development work has been entrusted to the National Agency Intermediation and Land Regulation (ANIREF), noting that “the progress rate of the work has reached 98%”.

He also indicated that the supply of electricity and gas to the industrial zone had been taken care of by the Energy sector through Sonelgaz, the connection operations having been included in the Finance Law for the financial year 2023, noting that “the completion of the road network within the industrial zone is dependent on the completion of various other networks”.

Mr. Aoun also underlined that the ministry’s services will work to “repair what can be repaired”, announcing “the preparation of a file concerning unexploited industrial land which will be presented to the Council of Ministers”.

As for the creation of new industrial zones in the wilaya, the minister explained that it was up to “the discretion of local or public authorities”.

To the question of the deputy Rachid Cherchar (Movement El-Bina) on the strategy advocated by the ministry for the rehabilitation of the industrial zone “Tafraoui-Tamzoura”, Mr. Aoun affirmed that the realization of the industrial zone proposed in the commune of Tafraoui had been approved following the declassification of plots of agricultural land in 2018. The study and realization of the development works of this area, with an area of ​​476 hectares, were entrusted to the urban planning services under the supervision of the wali, he said, stressing that “the studies are being finalized”.

The operation also includes work to connect the industrial zone to electricity and gas, for which contracts will be concluded with Sonelgaz, added the minister.

Concerning the new “Tamzoura” industrial zone, Mr. Aoun indicated that the realization of the development works of this zone, with an area of ​​205 hectares, had been entrusted to the wali of Aïn Témouchent, stressing that the services of the wilaya take charge of the infrastructure and the various networks, in coordination with the investors, in addition to the question of industrial waste, in cooperation with the environmental services.

To a question from MP Gouri Abdelkader (Independents) on “authorizing the private sector” to manufacture and import tobacco in all its forms, the minister recalled that the current law on investment clearly stipulates “the consolidation of the principle of freedom of investment”.

“The manufacture of tobacco in all its forms is a regulated activity, the exercise of which requires the obtaining of tobacco product manufacturer approval, issued by the Ministry of Finance, in accordance with specifications governing manufacturing activities, import and distribution of these products,” he added. Regarding importation, Mr. Aoun clarified that “only tobacco manufacturers are allowed to import it,” Mr. Aoun said.

Regarding the metallurgical industry, the first official affirmed that his “single concern is to relaunch the public sector (…) by working to modernize equipment”. He also wanted to develop this sector “so that Algeria, he said, is completely independent in this area”.

Responding to a question from the deputy of the National Liberation Front Party (FLN), Belkacem Benmouass, on the measures to revive the regional drug warehouse in Laghouat, the Minister indicated that the Central Hospital Pharmacy (PCH) had programmed the opening of branches in several wilayas, including Laghouat.